Adjustable means for regulating the tension of the spring-frames for motor-cycles.



G. G. STEPHENSON.

ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR REGULATING THE TENSION OF THE SPRING FRAMES FORMOTOR UYGLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1912.

1,101,764. Patented June 30,1914.

I 314/012 *Wroz @1 y kw 17' STATEES PATENT @FFEQE.

CHARLES G. STEPHENSON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR REGULATING THE TENSION 0F TI-IE SPRING FRAIHES FORMOTOR-CYCLES.

Application filed September 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES Gr. STEPHEN- SON,a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county ofDenver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Adjustable Means for Regulating the Tension oftheSpring- Frames of MotorCycles; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to thecharacters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for regulating the tensionof the spring frames of motorcycles, bicycles, or other similarvelocipedes.

My present improvement is particularly adapted for use in connectionwith the spring frame structure disclosed in my previous application,Serial No. 613,557, filed March 10, 1911, in which upper and lowersprings are employed. Under some circumstances, as in the case of tandemmachines constructed for two riders, the full tension strength of bothsprings is desirable, but when only a single rider is using the machinethe tension of the two springs will be too great, and the jar, orconcussion, due to vibration, will be more than is desired. In thisevent my present improvement is brought into requisition and enables meto virtually throw one spring out of commission, thus making theelasticity or cushion of the frame proper for a single rider.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed todescribe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine equipped withmy improvement, one of the front wheels being partly broken away. Fig. 2is a sectional detail view of the rear fork of the machine constructedin accordance with my improvement and showing the upper spring inposition for using the full tension thereof, as when the machine isheavily loaded. In this view the parts are shown on a larger scale thanin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the spring connected in theother Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1914.

Serial No. reacts.

position, or in the position to virtually throw the upper spring out ofcommission. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fi 3,being a view looking in the direction OI arrow l, Fig. 3.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate, in a general way, the frame-work of amotorcycle, the central part 6 of the frame-work being connected with:the rear fork 9 by upper and lower springs 7 and 8, the upper springleading from the top of the frame structure 6 to the upper extremity ofthe said fork, while the two members of the spring 8 lead from a joint10 to the hangers 12 connected with the bearing 13 of the rear axle. Thejoint 10 provides for movement between the crank hanger ll and the lowerfork 15, this movement being regulated and controlled by the two membersof the spring 8 the latter being fixedly mounted at their forwardextremities upon the frame. When the upper spring 7 is employed, as whenthe machine is heavily loaded, its rear extremity is connected with theupper end 16 of the rear fork 9 bypassing a bolt 17 through the eye 18of the spring and through perforations 19 formed in the extremity 16 ofthe fork, the latter being bifurcated to receive the spring. When it isnot desired to employ the tension of the spring 7, the bolt 17 isremoved from the perforations 19 and the spring eye 18 and the fork issprung sufliciently to bring the eye of the spring into register withslots 20 formed in the opposite side walls 21 of the upper extremity 16of the fork, the said extremity being open in front as shown at 22 toallow the spring to move freely up and down as the bolt vibrates in theslot. From this it will be seen that when the bolt 17 which secures therear extremity of the spring 7 in place occupies the slots 20, thespring is out of commission. It may, however, be readily shifted fromone of these positions to the other, "as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a velocipede, a frame, a rear fork pivoted to the frame near itsbase, a spring secured at its forward end upon the up per part of theframe, and means for connecting the rear extremity of the spring withthe top of the said fork, inclnding an element adjustable -to releasethe tensionof the spring.

necting its opposite extremity with the top of the rear forlg includingan element adjnstablefor maintainingor"releas'ing the tension of thespring;

3. 11] a -velocipede, a frame, a rear fork pivotedto the frame nearitsbase, a'leaf spring interposed between said frame and the upperextremityof the fork, and means for attaching: the spring to thefork,incl1idingan element to releaseor restorethe tension of the spring.

4. In a velocipede, a frame, a rear fork hinged tothe frame, a leafspring: securely attached at its forward extremity to'the frame, saidfork being provided with a slot and a perforation and a bolt adaptedtoconnect the rear end of the spring with the fork, by passingthronghthespring and perforation or through the spring and slot,

according to whether it is desired to maintain or release the tension ofthe spring.

5(In a velocipede', a frame, a rear fork hinged to the frame, aleafspringesecurely attached at its forward extremity to the frame, saidfork being bifurcated to receive therear extremlty of the spring, thebifur- Gated P tbeing provided with a slot and a perforation'and a boltmounted in the spring "and adapted to connect the rear end of the springwith the: bifurcated portion ofthe fork by passingi'through theperforation or slot according :towhether' it is desired to maintain orrelease the tension "of'the spring;

6; In COIDlOiHLItlOIlWl-th the frame of avelo'cipede, a wheel fork,*apluralityv of'springs' arranged to support' said fork from-the frame,and means :for disconnecting one of said springs from its supportingconnection copiesoflthis P 'ent'may Ive obtainedfor five'een'ts each, byaddressing the Commission-dr of-tPateirtit wlshiflgtbn 51 a n I

